It is extremely important for players who aspire to play in college to play at tournaments like Jefferson Cup. In the spring season the college coaches are focusing on the high school freshmen and sophomores. If your team is playing in one of the top 3 flights you are in great position to be showcased if not this year then next year.

Coming from a younger age group to ask those who have btdt about the training center.

I see a lot make this the #1 thing you want to be invited too for U14 and under. What about other things like PDP and ODP? When exactly does the training center start and how many times do they meet up to practice? Is it year round? The only thing I know is that it is free and you have to be invited (does this come directly from the coach or the US Soccer). I also heard that it's about who your clubs DOC is/knows ect. Plus I saw people complaining about the girls not being up to par on this blog recently. Do they add new girls often? Do I have to be in an ECNL club to participate? How many people can the send from each age group? Just curious how it all works.

About 15 girls from 04 playing at NTC. Take about 5 from the north, who will go to WC, then another 5 from the south at cedar stars and leaves 5 for PDA. The GDA will be easy to make, plenty of spots to go around now that they have created separate age groups. Not very impressive if you make at this age, just another high level league.

Give cedar stars some time, we need an alternative to PDA and MF blew it. The GDA will be horrible the first two years anyway. Pda will have a pretty strong team, although many are considering waiting and seeing.

Look on the bright side, probably why PDA encl didn't get accepted. They are 30 in state and Jeff cup said no thanks, got soccer says you are not good enough to pay. Do you really believe in got soccer?

Here's a serious issue for all you brofessors (including moms) to comment on. What do you do with the athletically and technically advanced player whose level of emotional development does not match her level of soccer development (i.e. a typical adolescent with an athletic gift, not a high end product under development)? For example, when 8th graders are committing to colleges when some of their peers have not even decided if they want to go to college; and when GDA may demand 4 days a week and perhaps a lengthy commute for practice; and when ECNL is also demanding of time and effort; but little Mia also has other interests, including just hanging out with girlfriends of the non-soccer kind. What do you do to accommodate the girl without the player being completely left out of the game by 11th or 12th grade when attitudes and priorities may be different? We are there, but see a pipeline (no offense to the Marylanders) that presumes a linear flow of leagues and tournaments from rec to college without bends, elbows, Y's and T's (e.g. no "gap year" or alternative models). Perhaps too serious of a question for this Blog, but have at it.

@219 Try not to worry and let her have some fun. The percentages are heavily stacked against you for 1) national team and/or 2) full college scholarship. Everyone believes their kid is going to be the next star, but eventually reality cashes its check.

At the 8th grade level, if you do not have a solid technical and fundamentals background, then you better be an elite athlete with speed.

Going to a competitive club with a toxic environment will just lead to burn out. Do your homework.

The emotional (taking the sport more seriously/putting aside social endeavors) takes over at some point, 2:19 - but is variable across teams.

I would just say get her to the best level you can in terms of team play (winning AND development) while not taking away all other parts of her life.

You demand that your child/player spends certain number of hours on schoolwork/keeps up a certain level in the classroom. Do the same with soccer. There can be a balance of the three - and YES, in time the SOCIAL will be third - her friends will change - etc. This has to be done without her feeling you have yanked it away from her totally.

One thing about sports at the youth level - you dont get to do it again. There is a certain sadness in the statement, "maybe I should have...........". Getting them on the same page with you with regards to this can be tough - frank conversations being the important thing (but continue to make it fun)

The only ones in the end that win are the athletes with skill and speed. Look at Mallory, athletic, fast and has skill. Can't teach the first two, even 4 days a week and 10 months a year. She probably played multiple sports too...

Athleticism makes all the difference in the world with two players of equal technical ability. However, the ball still moves faster than any player can run. Outstanding technical ability combined with a high soccer IQ can just as easily elevate a player to the top. True, they will not be playing outside or up top, but as a CM or holding mid, they can put their mark on the game. Think Pirlo, Xavi, etc.

A team full of technical geniuses can play some very high quality soccer with long periods of possession. But, that being said, they can lose to a dump and chase team that scores on the counter or gets an early goal.

If there is an official girl’s merger between World Class and NYCFC, the ECNL won’t allow World Class to keep ECNL. They will have to pick between ECNL and GDA. It looks likes WC will keep the girls in the ECNL.

If they have an unofficial partnership where they just send the better players across the street to NYCFC for GDA then that will work. But does NYCFC really want a GDA?

If WC hands over the DA team to NYCFC - it will be a huge brand loss for WC. Right now Both clubs are in Boys DA - and as expected in a short amount of time NYCFC already cannibalized WC's DA team - up to a point where the games are blowouts.

CSA does not need to apply for ECNL. CSA is taking over lots of clubs in NJ any NY - and soon will most likely be getting another DA license to play in both Monmouth as well as Bergen counties (Ramsey?). They have money and the National Team coach on staff. They get what they want.

Where is this Crush-CSA announcement that everyone seems to know about? Can someone provide a link or the content of the article? How would they be in ECNL when CSA is not an ECNL club nor is Crush. Unless that is also in this big announcement.

Not much news, just another one of many clubs. If the few girls are good enough to go GDA from CRUSH, why wouldn't they go to WC or PDA, both better and both much closer. Plus they would have even uglier uniforms. I'm having a hard time seeing why this is so big? Anyone can try out for any GDA team and they would welcome the best players, you don't need an affiliation with a super club with one GDA.

@8:05 I agree with you. I do not understand why this is even news, let alone "good" news for Crush. The release says that the CSA Bergen teams will play EDP or NPL like they already do at Crush. And it sounds like it's the same coaching staff. So they go from Orange to Green? I am not trying to start something, I am truly curious what I am missing here.

I think it's for marketing the club and keeping the paying clients as long as possible. makes them believe they have a future path towards GDA. I'm sure they will try and get ecnl too. Ecnl should open up now.

8:05 - CSA may bring GDA to bergen as they have 2 BDA now, both Monmouth and Bergen now. It may change the scene if WC decides to drop GDA. What I heard is that WC is still planning to form GDA, but the decision may lead into they leave from ECNL. If so, Some WC girls may consider CSA/Crush next year. It may bring another big tryout drama.

This is only good news for the Crush owner. Players don't leave his club like theyve been doing in highschool so his pockets get fatter.

Players will think they have a better pathway into DA but I don't see that being the case. And like someone made the point. If a player is good enough for DA. Why do they need CSA? ....PDA and WC around....or even MF for ecnl

should be interesting how many of the high quality players move to DA - i know playing HS for a many girls is important and their DA commitment requirement takes that away. At least ECNL understood this. What will happen to the level of ECNL play? will it be the new NPL level of play? and what happens to NPL?I heard the ECNL clubs that are now DA will just be moving their ECNL teams up (of course outside players will have the opp to tryout) to DA and their NPL teams to ECNL. I believe this re-alignment will potentially cause some DA clubs to drop ECNL and other NPL clubs now to move into ECNL. For example strong NPL clubs like SUSA, SDFC, Crush, NYSC would move to ECNL.any thoughts out there?

How many new ECNL clubs will be announced before fall 17? Is the increase going to be a lot? I tried to find some answers , but couldn't. I agree with the above comment. I have a feeling NPL is basically going to be the new ECNL.

The fundamental issue with getting into ECNL is the politics side of getting in. How does NJ, a hub of soccer, only have 2 Clubs in ECNL? Because PDA don't want anyone else in it. MF had to give people money (hush hush) in order to get in, that's no secret. Is it wrong? Depends on your opinion, they did what they had to in order to get in. But is it right that PDA monopolize the league in the area to suit their own gains? No. It's a shame as a few clubs would do well in ECNL but it's about who you know and what you're willing to do to get in.

@1:02pm - agree but the landscape has changed with DA now which may force ECNL to open up a bit because many of the current ECNL clubs will be moving their ECNL teams to DA diluting the level of talent in ECNL. I think very few clubs with DA and ECNL will be able to put the level of quality on the field that ECNL has come to know. I am sure it will take a few years to filter out.

Crush will be getting "DA spotlight player" status where girls will only have to attend a single DA practice a week in Monmouth and 3 in Bergen to be on the DA team. I'm not sure how many games are guaranteed and how many games are max for spotlight players.

10:26 lots of exceptions even in the boys rules. Check them out - Developmental Players have been allowed for some time. Also read some interviews of the changes that are potentially coming up. Why do you hate soccer?

NYCFC Takes World Class FC's DA. Don't think that there will be anymore ECNL/DA clubs in the Bergen area now. USSF won't want an MLS club to fail in their first year. They want more MLS clubs to come into the GDA. WC will keep ECNL

Great. kaz running DA with awesome track record of getting kids into top schools. Leaving a poorly run ecnl product to die a slow death. WC should be called Lower Class because thats what they give you. Second rate programs.

Brilliant move by crush. They are cutting the team expenses in half next year to keep players from moving with A-BOY. Now they just need to hire a good replacement coach. Can't use gone ones they have on staff. This is all business.

seems like there are some haters about the crush coach but no specifics. Did he not do a good job? Ive heard he is a good coach for footskills and creativity. Is this not true? He is sure to turn up coaching at another club soon. Its a small world. He may end up at your club.

The top 30-40 kids (in each year) will probably leave HS and ECNL to go to DA. Thats enough to put a serious dent in quality of the product. I personally know of kids that would skip HS as to avoid injury and lame coaches. Its probably super hard when you're a part of a great school. But there are only a handful of these schools in NJ.

These are the guys you need to run from. I'm sure his current parents are believers and they will follow him. They will all look back and wish they didn't. Nice news for WC, I hope they do well, we need a solid alternative to PDA.

I for one am on pins and needles waiting for the next episode of A-boy and The Crush. Will his girls follow him? Where will he land? I know where they have been practicing....is he going to that club too?

AVERAGE-Game is all about the money. His girls are overrated and don't produce. Never won before the fall. Parents follow blindly. Pretty unethical of him to be bring girls to MF practices while employed at another club. That's always good for your reputation.

Wow, wonder if he is going to get hired by matchfit. I did hear they were practicing with the 03 ecnl team so they must be pretty good. Why would anyone want to be on a 24 player roster? The kids need to actually get in a game and play and if your player is not a starter, you can forget that happening. Maybe the crush girls would stay where they are now since Cedar Stars is taking over crush. If they are inclined to want a DA , that would be the the way to go. Matchfit has a poor reputation.

A-Boys girls have been with him for years. Don't think they have been coached by anyone else. There are better and more complete 03 players on that team and on the other Crush 03 team. MF 03 ECNL pretty weak.

Why all the hate against the girls and the coach? I have seen them play. They are very talented, and he is an excellent coach. Isn't it good for nj soccer to have many good players and coaches? I would like to know Where the coach will go and hope we find out prior to tryouts

I agree. Matchfit 03 ecnl is weak but maybe agame guy is looking to get his girls on that team. He does need a home too,apparently. Maybe he is trying to work a deal. Not cool for the current ecnl girls. Hoping they are reading the writing on the wall and looking elsewhere. Matchfit is not known to do business with the best ethics.

Ecnl is about putting the best team on the field. If the kids are the best and deserve to be on the field they will be on the field. PDA and MAtch Fit Ecnl teams are heads and shoulders above the rest. Watch amd learn this spring.

This is a perfect place for A BOY. More chaos and will be gone in two years. Also heard he will try and stay on his own, may want to think about a name change. Not sure I would want that name on our jersey. This could be another Bergen's best episode...

The match fit 03 encl. team is all about kick and run soccer. This is disappointing at this level as It is like watching 11 individuals on the field. They do not work together as unit, as a team to move the ball. There were high hopes with the NT coach but clearly all is not good .

2/28 @5:35 - no hate against the coach, he's a passionate guy. More good coaches the better, agreed. he is a good technical trainer but awful game coach and confidence builder. couldn't win a big game and before Crush only won 1 game- believes tearing kids down, threatening parents is productive. Top 2 players were Crush players not A-Game trained. Please do find out where he goes and push your daughter in that direction, just hope that his A-game girls aren't on the team

Threatening parents about what? That is something I have not heard before in youth soccer. I've seen many coaches tear down girls on a regular basis. That seems to be a common coaching tactic unfortunately although I personally am not fond of such methods. And many coaches play favorites.

It looks like SDFC is falling apart. Girls are leaving to go to other teams. Best of luck to all the ones leaving and good for them. Team is like one step away from Daddy ball. The parents complain and the coach is a Pansy that doesn't know how to deal with it. I know that this is a money making industry but this club tops all. If you grease the right palms you can get your daughter on the team, not show up for any of the practices, or when you feel like it, and then get all the playing time on the field. What a joke. If a child is talented then there should be no need to pay above and beyond club fees to help build and support their new super arena that they are trying to build...

It's true, agame girls/crush are going to mfa. I'm confused though, they play each other at manhattan this weekend. Are the crush girls abandoning ship before spring. That's not cool. Mfa already had a big roster, it must be over 25 now...easily. Can they cut existing players to make room? I would be looking elsewhere if my daughter was on that team.

Sounds like some parents of AGame girls are afraid of the reality of not getting their favortism. Why else would they leave? Don't tell me loyalty because by leaving crush a week before the season starts is a complete lack of loyalty. I guess they like to play with losing teams?

Is the whole Crush A team going to Matchfit, or just 5 girls? If it is the whole team moving, I can understand they are following the coach, but if it's five girls, that is wrong to do to your teammates, leaving them no team for spring with no notice. My daughter would be crushed (excuse the pun) if that happened to her. I hope that the information posted here is not correct.

I heard it was 5. Maybe they were offered spots for next year and will finish the spring with crush. Otherwise, those parents are not setting a good example of commitment. Is A -guy coaching there too? If not, why would they leave if they aren't really following him anywhere. ?

I would like to know where the crush coach is going. I thought that he is doing training through a-game and not coaching at a club but here someone said he is moving to match fit. Anything is possible and given all of the changes in youth soccer nothing surprises me anymore.

They were always loyal too coach. The group that is leaving follwed him to crush. He wanted to put them in the best spot where he knew they would have the best chance to play college soccer. Notice he chose mf not crush bergen da fake promise. Maybe he knows more than all the da chasers.

what you are saying is that pulling 6 girls from a team and not leaving enough to play a season 8 days before the first league game is loyalty? Do you believe that leaving for the spring season vs moving in the summer at U14 will impact their opportunity to play college soccer? good luck to MF having to deal with existing parents by bringing in 6 new players at this point in the season- haha good luck with that

What about teaching life lessons such as being part of a team and when you make a commitment you honor it. These parents seem clueless. Jumping from club to club when you don't get your way is not a life lesson I want to teach my children. Their coach that they PAID for additional training (conflict of interest) got FIRED because he didn't act appropriately and has questionable business ethics. At this rate these kids will be following him to South Jersey in a year since he has soiled his reputation in North Jersey.

Make sure you check out Average-Games coaching record and performance for all his teams. Especially the great 05 team which didn't win a game in the Bethesda Tournament. Average is being too kind. More like an F.

Everyone here is missing the point. No one said he wasn't a good technical trainer. He is very good. But there are so many other things that go into coaching and molding kids. It is about teaching them how to handle yourself and setting the right example in how you carry yourself both on the field and off the field. How to mold a team into a cohesive unit and build relationships. He got caught doing something that wasn't right to his employer. Instead of admitting he was wrong he made it worse by then encouraging his players and parents to break their commitment to the club and more importantly to their fellow teammates. These kids quit on their teammates. College programs will be impressed. Shame on all of them. Buyer Beware.

seems to me like MFA with be a perfect place for this coach and players They have sketchy ethics by leaving their current team high and dry and MFa is just as bad by adding 5-6 new players mid year to an already inflated roster.

This seems too ridiculous to be correct- maybe this information is wrong. If the coach were going to match fit wouldn't there be an announcement? And adding 5 players to a roster mid year, when there was already a packed roster seems hard to fathom.

No one said he was going to Match Fitb and I know everything that is going on including the fact that he is still pressuring one family to leave Crush. He has been bringing his girls to Match Fit all winter. He orchestrated the whole thing. He is doing his own thing with Average-Game.

If the coach is not going to MFA why would he bring them there over the winter. I'm sure these agame players knew he was no longer going to be with crush but these players going to MFA in the winter/now seems to be a decision they made. what benefit is there for the agame coach for them to go to MFA when he isnt going. As stated by 9:59am post, the coach is doing his own thing with agame

Hey Average-Game next time you post a ridiculous picture of YOUR girls why don't you try some of these hashtags. They are more accurate then the self-serving ones you choose. And all attributes they have learned from you.

@March 3, 2017 at 10:11 AM - I'm sure he worked out some deal on the side. What was he doing bringing these girls to another club mid season when he was employed by Crush? I'm sure he didn't expect to get caught and then get fired. Getting fired from coaching 4 teams isn't good for ones resume. Spin it however you want. Those are the facts my friend.

@March 3, 2017 at 9:15 AM - Exactly these girls and parents who before this year never won a tournament or even made a semifinal gave up the opportunity to play in the Region 1 Tournament in Virginia this summer. What a great experience it would have been for all of the girls which is now probably ruined for the girls that are staying who by the way are the reason why the won the State Cup.

Maybe they all realized the true situation. Their state championship while a nice thing to talk about did not represent being the best team iin the state. If the only way you get to play the best team is to play PDA in the ECNL and pf em albertson why not go and see how good tgey really are.

Mf needs to put the best team possible on the field for every match. So if players are coming that improve a team why wouldnt the grab them?

You all are also missing the point of college. These girls are 8th graders. In the last month 2 girls from pda 02 team committed from Duke. If you think the first time they met them was a few weeks ago you are ignorant. The only teams that can properly prepare you for college are pda and mf.

March 3, 2017 at 10:39 AM - Yes you are correct ultimately the parents make the decision. But again he was advising them to leave once he got fired. Which is wrong. And it still doesn't explain why he was bringing some of his girls to another club during the winter. Why not do it during the spring season as a pre-cursor to tryouts which many kids do anyway. It's just so wrong on so many levels and if you don't get that than I feel sorry for you.

I do know what's going on and most of this is true. Mfa has taken on at least 6 new girls for spring. I don't think agame guy will be a coach as I believe he is focusing on his supplemental soccer company. Why these players would move mid year is simple.. they want to play ecnl. The bigger problem is that mfa sent an email to the ecnl teams families saying that moving foward a roster would be sent out every Sunday for training for the upcoming week. That's right, you read that correctly, the current ecnl girls may not even be rostered with ecnl for the practices they may be rostered with npl!!This seems so outrageous. Can mfa really do that? Can they now at the start of spring tell the ecnl girls they may not even train with their team let alone play in the game? If they wanted these girls added to the club, why not give them offers for next year and let them finish their obligations to their current teams and mfa finish their obligations to the players they extended ecnl offers to for the 20-16/2017 year? Something seems very off about how these youth clubs are running things. Is this how all the clubs operate? Pda? So the crush players may be #quitters but mfa is #shady

@March 3, 2017 at 11:41 AM - Give me some of what you are smoking. Top six players? The top 3-4 players are staying with Crush from what I hear. Some of the girls that are leaving are talented but most of them are in the middle of the pack at best. There are several girls on the other 03 Crush team that are more accomplished (ODP Players) than the Average Game players. But he wanted to protect his girls and not cut them. FACT

Crush has been losing players for years and will always. They do the same from other clubs too. They started from taking full teams, coaches and top players for years from the torpedoes red and other local clubs. Was that okay? What about a-man coming over from stallions, then it was okay? What about when cryer-baby brought his team and then left? Why? Was it him, or crush? Every time someone leaves crush, they are always thrown To the wolvesEven tne top players that leave for PDA, they become traders. Looks to me like crush is the problem and every year has a huge problem like this. Saw with my u16, and that age group lived on the board too and always seemed to have some issue. Finally, you will be leaving next and tne same thing will happen. We all move around, let it go now.

You must be very ignorant if you can't see the issue. Kids and coaches move teams all the time. There is the right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. Kids learn from their parents and coaches who you hope act like adults. Clearly they did not handle the situation correctly. You do not leave your team in midseason and quit on your teammates. It's called being responsible and respectful.

Seems like some real crappy behavior by all involved.MFA for being on the receiving endCrush for not seeing this months ago, you get in bed with bugs, you wake up with bed bugsAssGame for sure for thinking its ok to screw over an employer who hired you and gave you employmentthe rest of the kids on the crush team who trusted you as their leader and you split the squad up;Its disgusting to justify it with the everyone does it, screw the win at all costs at any level.

karma is a bitch. you watch. assgames business will fall on its face. he'll pull that crap with customers or vendors and they'll walk in a blink.

the only ones who think otherwise are asshat, his 5,6 parents, and maybe the matchfit dopes. the rest of the world would call it crapolla.

Let's clarify for the bashers- it is somewhat acceptable for players to try out for a new club after the fall season and move over the winter if they do choose. Like it or not it happens. Usually one offs. when a coach starts bringing players from his own team to another club WHILE employed by Crush is the first real issue and is what led to his dismissal. Deservedly so. No club would tolerate that. then the group of players that were soon to leave were continuing to come to practices even recent outdoor scrimmages to ga be the impression they were staying. Then 8 days before the first league game and two weeks before Jeff cup 6 players bailed not leaving enough players to field a team. I have no doubt it will work out but no one on this board can make an equal comparison to the classless act of the coach and the parents. Had it happened during the winter and notice provided to the club maybe it would be more acceptable and most acceptable after the spring season. So it seems the parents and agame guy deserve each other. Also note a new coach was assigned immediately who is a college girls varsity head coach. Much stronger background then agame guy.

@March 4, 2017 at 12:06 AM - He played at the soccer powerhouse Darton. A junior college in Albany, GA that is no longer in existence. I wonder if he majored in business ethics and education. Clearly two of his stronger attributes.

absolute certainty the only posts up here supporting this move, danny asshat, these atrocious parents and this move are danny asshat these atrocious parents or matchfit kids. the incredible mentoring of a C level junior college substitute who scored 2,3 goals in his career. oil salesman.

Nope, no skin in the game and you keep looking worse. Never met the boy, but we have played on the north slope. my daughter has made a move and I know what type of people come out when that happens. Go Danny boy - go, now I'm really on your side. Would love to see you join PDA or WCFC, real clubs.

Oh yeah, I'm sure clubs are lining up to make offers. Haha. What are his credentials - where are his kids playing in college, what is his coaching license. Why do you keep moving from club to club? How have your teams performed? What type of improvement? Please provide me with references from your former bosses - not parents who have paid you to train their daughter. The offers are flying in. A dime a dozen my friend. Seen this movie before.

Manhattan Tourney - Crush 03 second team 1 - Match Fit 03 ECNL 1. Wonder what those college scouts were thinking watching to quote a past post a B level club tie the almighty ECNL team. Joke. Those Average Game girls better get their soon although I'm pretty sure they will have no impact.

Nice work. Why are they the second team? Didn't your so called first team just implode. Do they think they are the second team? MF stinks anyway, haven't been able to build anything in years. Stay far away.

Have no idea on what each parent thinks. I am going by there results and what leagues they play in. One plays in NPL the other EDP. The team that just imploded also seems to play in the higher flights at tournaments. Look at where they are scheduled at Jeff Cup as an example. These things usually give an indication. Match Fit does stink and is now getting involved with "bed bugs" to reference a past post. You are the company you keep.

@9:52am - is that the equivalent of community college? He was a second team all county player in Florida. I wonder if he applies the same training techniques that made him mediocre to his agame players.

Why is everyone so fixated on this agame coach? Crush has the worst coaching staff which is why they have constant issues year after year and why their teams will never compete at the highest level..it looks like a lot of folks here are spending a lot of time trying to figure out agames history when they should be more worried about the rest of the staff they currently have within the Crush organization